Spain

Question 1

Historically, what kind of oak is used in Rioja?

Answer 1

American oak

Question 2

What Spanish regions have adopted more stringent labeling laws than required/accepted across the rest of the country?

Answer 2

Rioja

Ribera del Duero

Question 3

What are the standard labeling laws for Spain (Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva)?

Answer 3

1. Crianza:
   - Red wine: 2 years, 6 months in cask
   - White wine: 18 months, 6 months in cask
2. Reserva:
   - Red wine: 3 years, 1 in cask
   - White wine: 2 years, 6 in cask
3. Gran Reserva:
   - Red wine: 5 years, 18 months in cask
   - White wine: 4 years, 6 months in cask

Question 4

What are the 3 autonomias of North-Central Spain?

Answer 4

Navarra
La Rioja
Aragon

Question 5

What two mountain ranges shelter the North-Central region of Spain, creating a rain shadow?

Answer 5

Pyrenees Mts to the NE (dividing France and Spain) and the Cantabrian Mts to the NW

Question 6

What river runs from the Cantabrian Mts all the way through Rioja?

Answer 6

The Ebro River

Question 7

After what tributary of the Ebro is Rioja named?

Answer 7

Oja

Question 8

What is the main red grape of Rioja?

Answer 8

Tempranillo

Question 9

What other red grapes are allowed in Rioja for blending?

Answer 9

Mazuelo (carignan)
Granciano
Garnacha

Question 10

What is the dominate white grape of Rioja?

Answer 10

Viura (Macabeo)

Question 11

What other white grapes are allowed in Rioja?

Answer 11

Garnacha Blanca
Malvasia Riojano
Maturana Blanca 
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Verdejo

Question 12

What are the aging requirements for labeling in Rioja?

Answer 12

1. Crianza:
   - Red wine: 2 years, 1 year min in oak
   - White wine: 2 years, 6 months in oak
2. Reserva:
   - Red wine: 3 years, 1 in oak
   - White wine: 2 years, 6 months in oak
3. Gran reserva:
   - Red wine: min 2 years in cask, 3 years in bottle
   - White wine: 4 years, 6 months in oak

Question 13

What are the 3 subzones of Rioja?

Answer 13

Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Baja

Question 14

Where is Rioja Alavesa and what does it produce?

Answer 14

The northernmost subzone of Rioja, it’s in the Basque country and tempranillo produces vino joven wines for early consumption.

Question 15

Of the 3 subzones of Rioja, which is the hottest and what grape performs best in this climate?

Answer 15

Rioja Baja is the hottest and garnacha is best here.

Question 16

Where is the autonomia of Galicia?

Answer 16

It’s in Green Spain, bordering Portugal in the northwest corner

Question 17

What are the 5 DOs within the autonomia of Galicia?

Answer 17

1. Rias Baixas
2. Ribeiro
3. Valdeorras
4. Ribeira Sacra
5. Monterrei

Question 18

What wine characterizes Rias Baixas and is blending allowed?

Answer 18

Albarino–a Rias Baixas Albarino cannot contain any blending grapes.

If it’s labeled Albarino with a subzone attached, it must contain a min 70% Albarino

Question 19

What red grapes are grown in Galicia?

Answer 19

Mencia
Caino
Espadeiro

Question 20

Ribeiro is located along which river?

Answer 20

Mino River

Question 21

What white grapes are favored in Ribeiro DO?

What about red?

Answer 21

Treixadura
Palomino

Caino

Question 22

Ribeira Sacra DO produces red and white wines from what grapes?

Answer 22

Mencia
Treixadura
Godello

Question 23

What grape varietal predominates wines from Getariako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina, and Arabako Txakolina?

Answer 23

Ondarrabi Zuri

Question 24

What is Spain’s largest autonomia?

Answer 24

Castilla y Leon

Question 25

What river flows through Castilla y Leon, passing through Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, and Arribes?

Answer 25

The Duero River

Question 26

What grape dominates the wines produced in Bierzo DO, comprising a min 70% of red wines and 50% of rose wines?

Answer 26

Mencia

Question 27

What white grapes are planted in Bierzo?

Answer 27

Palomino--dominates Godello Dona Blanca

Question 28

What is the flagship estate of the Ribera del Duero?

Answer 28

Vega Sicilia

Question 29

What wines can be produced in Ribera del Duero?

Answer 29

Reds predominate but a small of rosados are produced as well. Whites are not allowed

Question 30

What grapes are produced in Ribera del Duero?

Answer 30

Tempranillo (Tinto del Pais, Tinto Fino) Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Question 31

What grape essentially has a monopoly on Ribera del Duero vineyards and what are 3 synonyms?

Answer 31

Tempranillo (Tinto del Pais, Tinto Fino)

Question 32

Aging requirements for Ribera del Duero differ from normal DO standards. What are the requirements?

Answer 32

1. Crianza: 2 years, 1 in oak 2. Reserva: 3 years, 1 in oak 3. Gran Reserva: 2 years in cask, 3 in bottle

Question 33

What grape varietal dominates Rueda?

Answer 33

Verdejo

Question 34

Wines labeled as Rueda must contain what % of ______ and what other grapes are allowed?

Answer 34

50% Verdejo Viura (Macabeo) is common in blends

Question 35

Where is Priorat?

Answer 35

SW Catalonia

Question 36

What are the traditional grapes of Priorat?

Answer 36

Garnacha | Carinena

Question 37

What is the soil blend of black slate and quartzite called in Priorat?

Answer 37

Llicorella

Question 38

Where is Tarragona DO and what style of wine is it known for today?

Answer 38

A region along the Catalan coast, it produces many white grapes for Cava.

Question 39

What grape is produced in Alt-Penedes?

Answer 39

Parellada (white) grape used for Cava

Question 40

Despite having it's own DO, 95% of Cava is produced in what other DO?

Answer 40

Penedes

Question 41

What grapes are authorized for Cava?

Answer 41

``` Parellada** Xarel-lo** Macabeo (Viura)** Chardonnay Pinot Noir Garnacha Tinta Monastrell Trepat Malvasia ``` **The traditional 3 grapes

Question 42

What are the aging requirements for Cava?

Answer 42

1. General bottlings: 9 months on lees 2. Reserva: 15 months 3. Gran reserva: 30 months

Question 43

What is unique about Cava DO that is different than all other Spanish DOs?

Answer 43

Cava DO covers a style of wine, not an area.

Question 44

What differentiates bottles of Cava from other sparkling wines?

Answer 44

A 4-pointed star imprinted on the cork.